Class 10 History Chapter 3 Question Answers - The Making of a Global World

Q1. What role did the silk route play between the Chinese and the Romans?

Silk Route

Ans:

• The Romans learned about the silk route from the Parthians around 53 B.C.E. They used the word “Seres” or the silk people to refer to the Chinese. 
• Although there is no direct evidence of Roman merchants or Chinese traders in each other's civilizations, silk was highly prized in Rome, and Roman items were also popular in China.

Q2. Explain how food habits are good indicators of globalization.

Ans: The exchange of food crops and habits across regions demonstrates the impact of globalization. Key points include:

• The spread of various food crops shows how cultures influence each other.
• For example, Europeans gained nutritional benefits from the introduction of potatoes.
• However, globalization can also lead to negative outcomes, such as the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s, which resulted in thousands of deaths.

These examples highlight how food habits reflect broader global changes.

Q3. Describe in a few words how Europe changed at the end of the eighteenth century.

Ans: By the end of the 1700s, Europe underwent significant changes due to new scientific and revolutionary ideas. Key developments included:

• The Industrial Revolution began in England, transforming economies and societies.
• The Reformation, led by Martin Luther, encouraged capitalist thought and scientific inquiry.

These shifts altered how Europeans thought and acted, paving the way for modernisation.

Q4. Who were the indentured labourers? Which states of India produced the largest number of indentured labour?

Indian Indentured Labourers

Ans: Indentured labourers were bonded workers who signed contracts to work abroad for a set wage and duration. Their contracts often allowed them to be transferred to different countries.

The largest numbers of indentured labourers came from:

• Uttar Pradesh
• Bihar
• Central India
• Specific districts of Tamil Nadu

Q5. Describe some technological developments of the nineteenth century that affected industrial growth. 

Ans: Railways were crucial for connecting agricultural areas to ports, facilitating the movement of goods.

Shipbuilding emerged as a key industry, with nations competing to dominate sea trade routes.

The invention of the steam engine enabled the rise of steamships and railways, allowing the transportation of large quantities of goods over long distances.

Q6. What was the new system of slavery in the nineteenth century? 
OR 
Nineteenth-Century indenture has been described as a new system of slavery. Explain any three points.

Ans: The indentured labour system in the nineteenth century is often described as a new form of slavery due to various exploitative practices:

• Deceptive Recruitment: Many poor labourers were misled by agents and employers, with some not informed about their final destinations.
• Forced Labour: Some individuals were taken against their will, highlighting the coercive nature of the system.
• Poor Treatment: Indentured workers often faced harsh living and working conditions, resembling the experiences of enslaved individuals.

Q7. How was the USA able to recover from the post–World War economic crisis? 

Ans: The USA recovered from the post-war economic crisis rapidly due to several key factors:

• Strong Growth: The economy began to grow robustly in the early 1920s.
• Mass Production: The introduction of assembly line production by Henry Ford revolutionised manufacturing.
• Foreign Investment: Significant investments from abroad contributed to economic expansion.
• Agricultural Exports: Increased agricultural exports boosted the economy.

Q8. Describe how the Great Depression spread from the USA to other countries of the world.

Ans: The American crisis had a significant impact on other countries due to their reliance on US capital investment and loans. This dependence, combined with internal weaknesses in these economies, exacerbated the situation. Key factors that contributed to the spread of the Great Depression included:

• Lack of confidence among investors, leading to widespread panic.
• Countries struggled with their own economic vulnerabilities.
• Britain's decision to return to the gold standard at the pre-World War I rate of 4.86 dollars to 1 pound sterling.

These elements combined to facilitate the global spread of the economic downturn.

Q9. Write a short note on the effects of the Second World War.

Ans: The Second World War was even more destructive than the first, with approximately 3% of the world’s population lost. Notably, more civilians died than combatants.

Two key developments emerged from the war:

• The rise of the USA and USSR as superpowers.
• The creation of international organisations, such as the UNO, to promote peace and stability.

Q10. Briefly summarise the two lessons learned by the economists and politicians from the post-war economic experience. 

Ans: In the post-war period, economists and politicians learned two key lessons:

• Mass consumption in industrial society requires high and stable incomes.
• Full employment must be maintained, alongside government control over the flows of goods, capital, and labour.

These insights led to efforts to create a stable economy and ensure full employment in industrial nations, facilitated by the Bretton Woods institutions, specifically the IMF and the World Bank.

Q11. How did silk routes link the world? Explain with three suitable examples. 
OR 
Explain any three characteristics of the Silk Route.

Ans: The Silk Routes established pre-modern trade and cultural connections across vast distances.

• Linking East and West: The Silk Routes connected China with the West, facilitating the transport of silk and other goods.
• Trade of Goods: Chinese pottery reached India well before the Christian era. In exchange, textiles and spices from India and South-East Asia were transported to China, while precious metals like gold and silver flowed from Europe to Asia.
• Cultural Exchange: The Silk Routes were not just for trade; they also enabled the spread of ideas. Buddhism emerged in eastern India and spread along these routes, while Christian missionaries and early Muslim preachers later travelled through them to share their beliefs.

Q12. The First World War was fought between two power blocs. Explain.

Ans: The First World War lasted from 1914 to 1918. It involved two main power blocs:

• Allies: This group included Britain, France, and Russia, with the United States joining later.
• Central Powers: This bloc comprised Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Ottoman Turkey.

The conflict stemmed from tensions between these two alliances, leading to a global war.